‘Jordan Shield FTX23’ drill kicks off

AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti on Thursday attended the launch of the "Jordan Shield FTX23" drill at the Jordan Armed Forces hotel, in the presence of US Ambassador to Jordan Henry Wooster.

Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Planning, Organisation and Defence Resources, Brigadier General Yousef Al Khatib  said that "the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army has taken on the responsibility of enhancing national capabilities to deal with hazardous materials, in cooperation with the Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the Colorado National Guard (CONG), and the Defence Threat Reduction Office at the US embassy in Amman (DTRO), through the Jordanian-American programme to confront weapons of mass destruction."

He also expressed appreciation for the US’ ongoing cooperation with Jordan in various fields.

The US envoy praised Jordan's crisis response capabilities, citing the country’s success in establishing field hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, responding to the chemical incident in Aqaba and deterring smugglers from crossing the border.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officers from the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies, as well as US officers and military attachés from friendly countries, in addition to representatives from various ministries and state institutions.